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Chashme Baddoor

Chashme Baddoor is loud (like that's a surprise!), shamelessly mind-numbing, and exceeds your expectations at being miles away from logical. Bad performances, awful one-liners, ridiculously thoughtless situations make it even worse.

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Chashme Baddoor, a David Dhawan film starring Ali Zafar in the lead. That description by itself is a turn off for most, except, I guess, if you are charmed by Ali Zafar's chocolate boy looks. The trailers take this ahead and confirm that you really have very little to look forward to in the film. To top it off, it is a remake of what is considered a classic from the 80s. Something, not many from that generation would want changed, in the first place - let alone be tarnished to this extent.

I'm not a huge fan of the original Chashme Buddoor from 1981. There I said it. Even so, you just cannot forget the charm created by the simplicity (or even naiveté) of the characters. This is enhanced by the cozy ambiance created by the music, the lack of background score, the minimalistic use of light and camera and last but not the least the homely production design. The subtle satire is completely enjoyable too.

However, the 1981 film had general objectification of women as its basic premise and that didn't go well with me. It gave me the creeps then as it does now. Also, the conflict in the story comes too late. I am all for simple stories that don't really have any conflict but are just interestingly told - like a Chupke Chupke or an Anand. But with this one, the conflict comes so late after a smooth ride that it seems to be forced in.

Despite that, all the things Chashme Buddoor had going for it, Chashme Baddoor of our times seems to be throwing out of the window. As I write this piece, I am trying hard to find at least some thing that might save the film. Maybe we will have a few hearty laughs. It will be refreshing to see a genuine the satire that the 1981 film carried, refitted to our times. But satire has to be subtle and that's not exactly director, David Dhawan's strong suit. The music doesn't seem to have pleased too many people either.

It would be a shame if the only thing going for the film is the group of people, like a friend of mine, who want to watch the film, to see how badly they mess the original up.

But, hey maybe all these apprehensions will be proven wrong. Looking forward to that.

Music Reviews:Bollyspice - "2.5/5"Bollywood Hungama - "2.5/5"dunkdaft - "After that tacky trailer, the songs assures the classic will be murdered on screen for sure."IBN Live - "'Chashme Baddoor' as expected does not have a single dull moment and keeps you smiling through and through. "Milliblog - "It’s a crime that this film has the title of a beloved 80s film; the same applies to the music."

- meeta, a part of the audience

'dum hai boss' goes Seema (Tapsee Pannu) every time Sid (Ali Zafar) woos her with cheesiest of lines. This is just after Seema claims she needs something extra to be wooed. All you can say is 'dumb hai boss'. After this happens a few times, you realise that that's what David Dhawan thinks of his audience. Dumb, of course, not 'dum'!

Chashme Baddoor makes you wonder how low story ranks in this filmmakers' priorities. Situations pop out of nowhere. Even for a "mindless" script, a couple of scenes are outside reason - like a twist in the Joseph-Josephine track or people landing up in jail to arrive at a convoluted plot point. These make the film even more annoying.

Well, the frustration begins from scene one with absolutely painful performances. From Siddharth's over-zealous gestures to Ali Zafar's pretentious dialogue delivery to Tapsee Pannu's cute-yet-flat portrayal of Seema as the film's center of attention - it is one assault on your ears after another. Then again Tapsee Pannu needs another role for an opinion to made about her talent. Divyendu Sharma makes the most out of the supposedly funny lines he is given with some decent timing. Anupam Kher and Bharti Achrekar get to make a fool out of themselves once again. I'd have liked to say that Rishi Kapoor and Lilette Dubey are the saving grace of the film but that would imply that the film has some grace, so let's that be.

I don't know if the performances or the dialogues are more frustrating. The general concept of 'comedy' or 'entertainment' is very lame, making it difficult to believe, how low the standard of humor is. And this is despite rock-bottom expectations.

Shouldn't slapping, as a mechanism to make people laugh, have been out of fashion in the 50s? Scampering, in fast-forward was funny when Charlie Chaplin did it for the first few times. And pun stops being smart use of words at age 10. Even the silliest of silly comedies from the leave-your-brains-behind genre should have gone beyond these done-to-death tools of making its audience laugh. Oh yeah, and their first cousins, toilet and sexual humor. Needless to say, David Dhawan's Chashme Baddoor has the lowest possible form of gags in each of the above categories. Having the likes of Anupam Kher and Rishi Kapoor mouth them makes me want to cry. More so because they try to spoof Sholay's mausiji sequence or enact a SMS forward take on Chak De! India's 'sattar minute'.

For the sake of completeness, I have to mention the original Chashme Buddoor. Chashme Baddoor chooses to completely ignore all that was good about Chashme Buddoor - the simplicity and the satire. Instead, it goes on to make what was bad, worse. For example, the climax is made even more implausible.

Amidst this then, it is interesting that there was some attempt at being different in the way the songs were shot. They are loud and are far from melodious, as expected. But some smart editing and camerawork makes them stand out in this otherwise thoughtless execution. Other than that though, there isn't much they could do. After all, Chashme Buddoor had music from the pre-70s to pay tribute to, whereas yesteryears for current films is the 90s.

It is difficult to decide if my urge to cry was more because of the silly lines or because some part of the audience was enjoying it whole-heartedly. Some silliness is just so bad that it makes you laugh, Chashme Baddoor's brand of stupidity doesn't even fall in that category.

"What else did you expect?" Is a question I have no answer to. What I was thinking while drifting away from the films abysmal comedy though, was this - last week's Himmatwala fell pretty much flat on its face. What will the David Dhawans and Sajid Khans of the world do when in a few years the audience starts wholeheartedly rejecting brainless entertainment?

Thumbs up,
by Subhash K Jha (IANS),
FirstPost
:
...Dhawan’s film doesn’t take the characters’ contemporary courtship games into areas that would offend the moralists. He knows where to stop....
full review

Thumbs up,
by Swati Deogire,
In.com
:
...‘Chashme Baddoor’ is a fun watch with some rib-tickling chemistry between its male leads!...
full review

Thumbs up,
by Joginder Tuteja,
Indicine
:
...Right from the framing of every shot to the overall editing in the film to the madcap feel that the narrative carries, Chashme Baddoor carries the stamp of a filmmaker who has delivered maximum number of entertainers over last quarter of the century....
full review

Thumbs up,
by Mohar Basu,
koimoi
:
...The story brilliantly focuses eloquently on the trio’s friendship and bromance keeping the film cheerful and perky....
full review

Thumbs up,
by Ananya Bhattacharya,
Zee News
:
...As an actor, Siddharth has grown over the course of his films, and with every passing one is transforming into a star....
full review

So-So,
by Anna Vetticad,
annavetticadgoes2themovies
:
...Why do so many Bollywood comedy writers these days fill their pages with rhyming dialogues, puns and self-referential jokes? And by that I’m not referring to Omi’s shayari (which is enjoyably kitschy and tacky for the most part), but the manner in which Jai and Omi constantly rhyme their sentences even when Omi is not spouting poetry. ...
full review

So-So,
by Bobby Sing,
Bobby Talks Cinema.com
:
...On the other hand both Anupam Kher and Bharti Achrekar couldn’t rise above the routine with Ayaz Khan having nothing to do in the script till the end....
full review

So-So,
by Bodrul Chaudhury,
Bolly Spice
:
...Ali Zafar offers an entertaining, though at times shaky, performance as the male protagonist....
full review

So-So,
by Nikhil Arora,
Desi Martini
:
...Ali Zafar and Taapsee are adequate in their roles, even if their chemistry doesn’t “chamko”...
full review

So-So,
by Smita,
Desi Martini
:
...The dialogues are corny and cheesy most times but there are a few laughs to keep you from trashing it completely...
full review

So-So,
by Ameetbhuvan,
Desi Martini
:
...Watch Chashme Baddoor forgetting it is a remake, and even then, the max that you would get is a slightly cleaner comedy that is not just about gay jokes and animals biting you in the crotch, By that standard, yes, this one is a decent watch...
full review

So-So,
by Tushar Joshi,
DNA
:
...Dhawan’s ode to his own songs from the 90’s reminds us of those days when his films were effortless and unapologetic about their style...
full review

So-So,
by Nupur Barua,
fullhyd.com
:
...Trying to recreate the same aura with Ali Zafar and others is near impossible. ...
full review

So-So,
by Martin D'Souza,
Glamsham.com
:
...Rishi Kapoor as Joseph and Lillete Dubey as Josephine too have a role that begins with a bang, but ends with a whimper.
...
full review

So-So,
by Rajeev Masand,
IBN Live
:
...Still, the new 'Chashme Baddoor' doesn't entirely work because Dhawan appears conflicted between taking the characters on a journey of his making, and sticking to the blueprint of the original film. ...
full review

So-So,
by Vinayak Chakravorty,
india today
:
...Tapsee Pannu tries cutting a picture of zest as Seema, but her role - like all the others in this film - is too flippant to let her impress....
full review

Thumbs down,
by Deepa Deosthalee,
Film Impressions
:
...So that you can barely tell Siddharth apart from his friends and Neha (rechristened Seema) isn’t at all a likeable young woman you’re rooting for to pick the right guy....
full review

Thumbs down,
Free Press Journal
:
...He may have engineered the crude laughs here but he certainly ain’t gonna get much more than the front-benchers twittering in glee....
full review

Thumbs down,
by Anupama Chopra,
Hindustan Times
:
...Chashme Buddoor delivers the occasional laugh but the level of the joke is someone slapping someone else or a tired Bollywood reference...
full review

Thumbs down,
by Fatema H Kagalwala,
India Entertainment
:
...The film leaves nothing much to write home about or warrant a warm watch either except maybe the endearing characters of Joseph and Josephine played by two actors who can make the most outlandish seem plausible....
full review

Thumbs down,
by Shubhra Gupta,
indian express
:
...The vibe was youthful, and the trio plus the girl of their dreams were trying hard, and the laughs were flowing....
full review

Thumbs down,
by Gaurav Malani,
indiatimes
:
...Of the cast, Siddharth tries too hard to be funny but lacks a flair for comedy. He hams hysterically and at times seems sissy in his expressions. ...
full review

Thumbs down,
by Sanjukta Sharma,
Live Mint
:
...The lead characters, Sid (Ali Zafar), Jai (Siddharth) and Omi (Divyendu Sharma) are windbags who wail and yowl every dialogue out, like they are on the throes of extreme physical pain. Their limbs flail....
full review

Thumbs down,
by Janhavi Samant,
MiD DAY
:
...There is also a romance between single pub-owner Joseph (Rishi Kapoor totally wasted in this role), who the three owe money to, and their single bleeding heart landlady Josephine (Lilette Dubey). ...
full review

Thumbs down,
by Jaidev Hemmady,
Movie Talkies
:
...Known for making masala comedies, David Dhawan takes a classic laugh riot and transforms it into a corny fare...
full review

Thumbs down,
by Karan Anshuman,
Mumbai Mirror
:
...Genelia knock-off newcomer Taapsee Pannu is confident in her debut but has some way to go....
full review

Thumbs down,
by Saibal Chaterjee,
NDTV
:
...The antics of the motor-mouth male trio at the centre of the rigmarole – Sid (Ali Zafar), Jai (Siddharth) and Omi (Divyendu Sharma) – border on the imbecile, and the one-liners that they direct at each other and at the world at large are delivered at decibel levels so high that that it could rattle even those that are hard of hearing....
full review

Why do you review such crazy comedies since you are completely against the genre? This is visible from your every review. Instead of accepting the genre and reviewing it from the point of view of the target audience, you are always seen jotting down your personal hatred against such genre of movies. Hence, all crazy comedies get bad reviews on Wogma just because you personally hate such genre of movies.

The basic thing for every reviewer is to watch it from the point of view of the target audience.

@Keyur If only the target audience were one person. I would be claiming to be super human, if I claimed that I can watch a film from a point of view that I can tell how a group of people will react to a film. One person at a time, I can recommend or not, depending on what I know about that person's taste in films, but to say that I can watch a film like lakhs of people is ...

Like I say here always, my hope is that my reviews tell you what I liked/didn't like and why and depend on your taste you can take a call. For example, a reader can tell from this review that I didn't like the film because I found it loud and slapsticky. Now, that reader might like loud and slapsticky, so they can decide to go for the film. I think that's how a review serves its readers rather than saying, my opinion should be your opinion too.

@guddu that is one way of looking at it. Did you watch it?

Mahaveer

@Meetu: completely agree with your views on this one. I too feel, its time we should tell some movie-makers that we are much smarter than they think.

@Keyur: I don't think Meetu gave this one a bad review because she does not like the genre. I think the point here is simple, the film is either good or bad, the story/performances are either gripping or haywire. And trust me my friend, this one is hell bad, so would probably be Himmatwala remake. I saw this because I am a fan of the original Chashme Baddoor but now I feel that watching the older version again would have been a better choice. I too am not a huge fan of slapstick cinema but liked Delhi Belly (you might want to see Meetu's review of the film - http://wogma.com/movie/delhi-belly-review/). Please forgive me for my limited technical knowledge of movies if they both do not fall in the same genre.

Mahaveer has given this movie a Nay! Thumbs Down(If you are going to this one for the original, I urge you to buy the DVD of the original instead.).
Mahaveer has posted 6 comments and has rated 5 movies. See Mahaveer's page for more details.

@Mahaveer Thank you! :D I guess there is a way to make crass look good too. Also, it works the first time or even first few times you have seen it. Just seeing the same old tricks again and again makes it tiring.

Nauty

a very bad review.

Nauty has given this movie a Yay! Thumbs Up(an enjoyable comedy.).
Nauty has posted 2 comments and has rated 1 movies. See Nauty's page for more details.

Anil

Most of times your reviews @Meetu are pretty much in line with how I feel about the movie but for a change I don't agree to your rating for this movie.

In my PERSONAL opinion it wasn't a bad movie especially considering last fewDavid Dhawan movies. I had gone to watch the movie without thinking that it had anything to do with the original and I think that's made a difference in thinking.

I was sitting, getting bored at home and a friend suggested to join him for the movie and in that state of mind I would say it was a 3/5 movie i.e a decent time-pass :)

For me the biggest minus was Ali Zafar.

All said and done I would continue to be your avid reader.

Anil has given this movie a So-So(Nothing great but a decent time pass movie - 3/5).
Anil has posted 7 comments and has rated 6 movies. See Anil's page for more details.

Anup

I dont know in which era david dhawan was living,,,,he is still 10 - 15 years behind,,,,when people use to laugh on govinda's overacting,,,,Everybody knows what disaster have david dhawan done by making rascal ,, and guess what he have done it again with this one

Anup has posted 437 comments and has rated 108 movies. See Anup's page for more details.

Anuj

"Shouldn't slapping, as a mechanism to make people laugh, have been out of fashion in the 50s?"~Apparently NO....No wonder films like Golmaal,Housefull and now Chashme Badoor are all box office hits!

Anuj has posted 1145 comments and has rated 126 movies. See Anuj's page for more details.

Anuj

The David Dhawan's and Sajid Khan's of Indian Cinema are her to stay....unfortunately the young brigade seems to be taking a liking to trash like Housefull,Dhamaal,Golmaal and Chashme Badoor kinda cinema.

Anuj has posted 1145 comments and has rated 126 movies. See Anuj's page for more details.

@Anil I have always maintained a significant part of how you enjoy a film depends on how you've seen it - in what frame of mind you were, who was with you and so on. And thank you for your continued patronage. The point is never to always agree, right?

@Anup yep!

@Anuj :( But hopefully they will also like the not-Housefull, etc kinda cinema. That will be enough as a starter.

silvan

I saw the original and found it superb but this was more loud and OTTObviously trying to make a film for today's audiences Movie has several funny jokes though often it resorts to typical scenarios of today's comediesI liked Ali Zafar's acting, Siddharth and Divyendu were superb too Tapsee was dumb, but i liked Rishi Kapoor and Lillete's acting

silvan has given this movie a So-So.
silvan has posted 33 comments and has rated 17 movies. See silvan's page for more details.

Unsuidojo

How I wish; I had read this review before watching the horrible remake of the innocent cult classic from yesteryear.

David Dhawan does what he does the best, make dumb movie and expect, his loyal fans to put up with it.

Thanks for the site. I am sure I will frequent this more often in the future.

Unsuidojo has given this movie a Nay! Thumbs Down(I wish I had read this review before watching the horrible remake of the innocent cult classic).
Unsuidojo has posted 1 comments and has rated 1 movies. See Unsuidojo's page for more details.

kareena lamba

I saw this movie at wave cinema and to my shock it was a good hilarious movie. The character of omi was the best. Highly recommended for david dhawan fans.

@ Meetu.You haven't got my point. Target audience is not one person but a group of people who like a particular genre of films. So if you are reviewing a crazy comedy, you should watch it from their point of view by keeping your personal hatred towards that genre away. I am saying this not just for this review of yours, but every review of the crazy comedies that you have written since long. This is not at all about my opinion matching yours. You are just not getting this simple point.

@ Mahaveer - My comment was not based on this simple review. It's based on every review of crazy comedies that she has written since long. Have read all of her. This is not at all about my view matching hers or yours.

@Keyur Who makes a group? Individuals. Me claiming to know the taste of one person or a group would be ridiculous, because it is not possible. Hope this article helps - http://wogma.com/article/why-read-a-review/

Anuj

What constitutes "good" or "bad" cinema is not for u,me or any other individual to decide lady...I have no right to trash someone's views even if he goes to extent of saying that RGV Ki Aag is a better movie than Sholay!

Anuj has posted 1145 comments and has rated 126 movies. See Anuj's page for more details.

@Anuj You got me wrong. We can trash his views, but do we have to trash him, completely? Has his comment made all his performances not worth watching. Again, you have a right to feel that way. It is a struggle to maintain the distinction. I know because I have to try very hard in RGV's case. :D

(referring to comment on Naseeruddin Shah's comment on Sholay on the Sona Spa review)

Anuj

@Meetu : I was talking with the point of view of a general viewer. As for Naseer Saab i seriously think he needs to shut up and maintain some dignity especially considering that he's an immensely respected actor (among the top 5 ever in Indian cinema imo).

P.S. : RGV is the same man who gave us Shiva,Rangeela,Satya,Company and Sarkar....kindly give some respect :P

Anuj has posted 1145 comments and has rated 126 movies. See Anuj's page for more details.

@Anuj Exactly what I am saying...I do try my best to give RGV's films a fair chance, even if my heart is not in it. :D

Saahil

The only explaination for the people commending this movie is that they are either relatives of the people that worked in it or are getting paid handsomely to do so..it's either this or humanity is rightfully and deservedly headed towards its doom.

Saahil has given this movie a Nay! Thumbs Down(Shits on the art of cinema.).
Saahil has posted 1 comments and has rated 1 movies. See Saahil's page for more details.

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